Phonograph



Sept. 15, 1953 c. B. DALE ETAL 2,652,258

PHONOGRAPx-i Filed April 15, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet l F 29 35' 37 P1 A &4 {I mm m 36 INVENTORS. J9 (0% B Bat? 56' mm L. 5619 Sgpt. 15, 1953 c. B. DALE ETAL 2,652,258

PHONOGRAPH Filed April 15, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvroxs. I Md? C. B- DALE ET AL PHONOGRAPH Sept. 15, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 13, 1951 Sept. 15, 1953 c. DALE ETAL 2,652,258

PHONOGRAPH Filed April 13, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 uvmvroas.

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776214 21. ZUqg/zer- PHONOGRAPH Filed April 13, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS. COL Z)? Bfia/ J60 Qrzze Z. Be

13/. lzhi/jy H. U/agner Patented Sept. 15, 1953 Colin B. Dale, Oak

Park, and Arne L, Berg and Harry H. Wagner, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Webster-Chicago Cor corporation of Illinois Application April 13, 1951, Serial No. 220,848

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to phonographs, and more particularly to phonographs equipped with a record changing mechanism.-

At the present tii'nethere iswide use of p n graph records requiring operation at three differerit speed-s, viz. approximately 33', 45 and R. P.- M. For these different speeds" the records are also being made in diameters of 12', 1G" and 7"". The manufacturers of record changers have faced the necessity of redesigning their phonographs for operationwith records hav n these different diameters and playing speeds.

This has involved also the problem of aut matically controlling the swinging of the tone arm away from its rest or starting position to insure positioning of its stylus at the beginningof play position for each record.

The main objects of this invention are to pro vide an improved coordinated record release and tone arm actuating mechanism for automatically accommodating the set down of the tone arm stylus to the diameter of the record next to be played; toprovide an improved selective record marginal support of the push-( ii type for accommodating records of any or the three different diameters being currently produced; to provide improved means whereby adjustment of the record marginal support to a particular diameter record will control swinging of the tone arm to insure itsstylus being set down at the correct ,beg'iiining-of-play position for the record next to be played; to prov de an improved motor switch mechanism which, after being set by the usual reject button, may be manually retracted at any time. or be automatically retracted upon completion of play of the last record; and to provide an improved coordinated record marginal support and push-off and tone arm swinging and set clown mechanisms so simple in construction as to make their manufacture comparatively economical and their operation entirely simple and certain.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l' is a plan view of a suggestive exeniplification of record changing mechanism embodying this invention,v the tone arm being shown in. its rest or starting position and the turntable being broken away to more clearly. show the change-speed driving mechanism. and the gearing for record changing and tone arm swinging;

Fig. 2 is an. enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the turntable hub and gearing, takenon1ine22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, taken from the right of Fig. 1;

poration, Chicago, Ill., a

2 Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the record changer and tone arm positioning mechanism as viewed from the plane of line fi4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a slightly enlarged vertical sectional- View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, taken on line 5-4: thereof;

Fig. 6 is a view of much of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, but with the tone arm operating lever and shaft shown in positions which are opposite thereto;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view, slightly reduced, taken on line l'! of Fig. 5 showing the record marginal support; and tone arm operating parts in position to set down the toii arm stylus at the correct beginning-of-play position for a 12" record; I

Fig. 8 is a similar View for a 7" record;

Fig. 9 is a similar view for a 1'0 record;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevational View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9, as viewed from h plane of line ill-4U thereof;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the velocity latch whereby the record release and tone arm shifting cam means is intermittently connected to be operated by the turntablej in this view the velocity latch is shown in full lines as retracted and in dotted lines as engaged;

I2 is a fragmentar detail, partly Section, of the record supportin head and the associated record hold-down;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of the tone arm mounting, as viewed from the plane of line l3'-'|3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the hinge end of the tone arm mounting: and h Fig. i5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the last record motor shutmiif mechanism, the motor switch actuating levers in this view being shown in their 011 positions in contrastwith; the off positions of'lig'. 3".

A distinctive feature of this invention relates to a three-position push-01f typeselective rec'- ord marginal support with which is associated means for so conditioning a cam actuated tone arm swinging mechanism as to insure setting down of the tone arm stylus on the recordnext to be played at the correct beginning-of-play position. There is also associated with record supportand tone arm swinging means other means coacting therewith for cutting on the motor switch following the playing of the last record released from the'selective record support.

The illustrated phonograph comprises a sup- B, a three speed moporting base A, a turntable tor drive 6', a selective record marginal support 3 and release mechanism D, a tone arm positioning mechanism E, a velocity latch controlled cam means F for coordinating operation of the record marginal support and tone arm positioning mechanisms D and E, and a last record motor shut-off mechanism G.

The supporting base A herein shown comprises a main base section l5 and subbase sections 16 and ll for respectively supportin the change speed motor drive C, the selective record support and release mechanism D, and the tone arm positioning mechanism E. The main base section It which is of rectangular form, may consist of a flanged plate wherein is a depression l8 slightly eccentric of the base section l5. At the center of this depression is formed a well i9 wherein is journaled the turntable B and the gearing 21 whereby the turntable B is connected to the velocity latch controlled cam means F. At two adjacent corners of the main base section I5 are positioned crescent shaped plates 2 and 23 above the former of which are mounted the exposed parts of the selective record support and the tone arm positioning mechanisms D and E. Above the other crescent plate 23 i mounted a reject button 24 and a stop button 25. Inwardly adjacent the crescent plate 23 is a s ylu pad 21. The subbase sections is and I! are of irregular form, as will be apparent from the dotted outline in Fig. 1 and the view shown in Fig. 4. These subbase sections are suspended below the main base section by the usual posts and spacers.

The turntable B may consist of a plate having a depending peripheral flange 28 (see Fig. 5) and a mounting hub 29 (see Fig. 2) to which is secured a sleeve 31 having a pinion 32 formed thereon intermediate its ends. Within the sleeve 3] is arranged a bushing 33 whereby the turntable B is rotatably supported on a stud shaft 34 secured to the base section 15 at the center of the well l9 by a clamping nut 36 (see Fig. 2). The gearing 21 comprises two gears secured together and journaled on a pin 3'! so that the upper gear is positioned to mesh with the pinion 32 on the turntable B, whereas the lower gear is positioned to mesh with a gear 38 forming a part of the velocity latch controlled cam means F to be described more fully, hereinafter.

The three speed motor drive C which forms no part of this invention comprises a swingably mounted friction wheel 39 normally urged to establish a driving relationship between the turntable B and either of three differently dimensioned idlers 48. These idlers are mounted on a swingable plate M which is connected to a speed selector 42 so that the plate may be shifted to selectively locate the idlers in driving engagement with a motor shaft 53 and the friction wheel 39.

The selective record support and release mechanism D comprises a spindle 44 concentric with the turntable B (see Figs. 1 and 3), a rocker arm 48, and a mounting 41 (see Figs. and 12). The spindle 44 is of well-known construction. Its lower extremity is cut away, as shown at 48 in Fig. 5, and its upper end is angularly inclined and provided with a record supporting shoulder 49 and latch block 5!, as shown in Fig. 3. The spindle 44 sets in the sleeve 34 (see Fig. 2) with the end beyond the cut-away 48 extending through a semicircular notch in the bottom of the subbase section it to be held thereby against rotation. The latch block 5| is slidably supported on a pin 52, and acts to insure release of but a 4 single record with each operation of the selective record support and release mechanism D.

The rocker arm 46, as most clearly appears from Fig. 10 is channel-shaped with the parts 53 and 54 extending at nearly right angles to each other. The part 53 is formed with an apertured transverse flange 56 at its upper end which coacts with an aperture in the rocker arm 46 to serve as a bearing for a shaft 51 on the upper end of which is mounted a push-off head 58 comprised in the selective record support. The part 54 is hinged by a pin Bl to ears 59 struck up from the subbase section H.

The part 54 of the rocker arm 45 mounts an auxiliary channel-shaped arm extension 62 hinged to the pin 5! and mounting a roller 63 at its outer end. A set screw 84, threaded into the extension 62, makes possible an angular adjustment of the extension 62 with respect to the rocker arm 45 so as to relate the roller 63 to the cam means F (hereafter to be described), and thereby insure a proper movement of the push-off head 58 to successively displace laterally the records which are supported on the spindle shoulder 49. A small wire 55 (see Fig. 10) extends around the screw 84 and out through apertures in the-extension 62 to provide sufficient friction to hold the screw 64 against free turning. A spring 12 interposed between the main base section 15 and the rocker arm part 54, normally urges the rocker arm 45 to hold the roller 63 against certain cam means to be described at a later point herein.

The record support mounting 41 comprises the shaft 51 and the push-off head 58. Above its lower end the shaft 51 is adjustably secured to a collar 55 whereon is formed four angularly spaced V-shaped notches 6! for coaction with a selector stop 68 for holding the shaft 51 and pushoff head 58 in any one of three predetermined positions. A spring 69 interposed between the flange 58 and the selector stop 68 permits the selector stop to retract from the notches 61 when the shaft 51 is turned, and releasably holds the record support mounting 41 in its various shifted positions. A tongue ill on the stop 88, extending through a slot H on the rocker arm 46 (see Fig. 7) secures the stop against circumferential displacement while allowing for its axial shifting of the shaft 51. The collar 65 carries a lug or shoulder 13 (see Fig. 9) which, as will be set forth more fully hereinafter, comes into position for one of the rotative adjustments of the push-off head 58 to insure a positioning of the tone arm to set down its stylus at the correct beginning-ofplay position for records of one of the three diameters for which the push-off head 58 provides a marginal support.

The push-off head 58 is of generally rectangular form with an extension 14 at one of the narrower sides. The opposite longer sides of the main part and the end of the extension 14 are formed with pairs of shoulder ledges 15, 16 and H, respectively, whereon the margins of records of various diameters are supported above the turntable B in coaction with the spindle shoulder 43, as most clearly shown in 3. The push-off head 58 is eccentrically secured to the shaft 5'! so that the radial distance between the spindle shoulder 49 and a line through the respective shoulders 15, i5 and I! will be slightly less than the radii of therecords of diiferent diameters, as for example, 12'', 10" and '7", thus providing a marginal support for a stack of any one of these records as determined by the rotative position of the push-off head 58.

niounts a disc I 05.. This disc is Aweighted hold-down T8 for the stack of reserve records is'swiveled and hinged on the pushol'ihead by means ofa pin-19 (see Fig. 12). A compression spring BI normally urges the record hold-down 18 to press its outer end against a stack of records cooperatively supported on the push-off head 88 and the spindle shoulder 49. A lug 82 on the underside of the record hold-down fits in one of the three recesses 83, formed in the opposed face of the push-off head 58, so as to properly position the record hold-down with respect to the record-supporting ledges I5, I6 and H.

- The tone arm positioning mechanism E comprises a tone arm 84 swingably mounted on a rotatable and axially shiftable shaft 86 which is actuated by a lever 81 under the action of the velocity latch control-led cam means F (hereinafter to be described in detail) as influenced by a tensionin'g arm 88 and a coacting restraining lever 89 and a detent 9I.

The tone arm 84 is of conventional construction, preferably being in the form of a downwardly facing channel that is bowed endwise. At its rear end the tone arm carries a plate 92 (see Fig. 13-) to which is hinged a plate 93 mounting an angular bracket 94 whereto is anchored an inverted U-shaped bracket 96 hinged to a U- shaped bracket 91 that is staked to the upper end of the tone arm shaft 85. A hook 98 at the forwardvend of the plate 92 releasably engages the adjacent forward end of the plate 93 to permit the tone arm 84 to be swung upwardly on the hinge connecting these plates 92 and 93. A spring 1109 normally counterbalances the weight of the tonev arm 1 so that its stylus bears with only light pressure on the record under play.

on its forward end the tone arm mounts a conventional transducer whereon is formed a finger IllI so that a stylus of, appropriate character may be. positioned for a fast or a slow record. A roller I02 on the end of the bracket 94 is disposed under a hook I 03 secured to the main base section I to control :the vertical swinging of the tone arm 84 as a result of the axial movemont of the shaft 86. The bracket '94 mounts the usual eccentric cam screw 99 which coacts with the plate 93 to secure the required adjustment of the stylus with respect to a. record sound groove.

The tone arm shaft 85 is rotatably and axially shiitable on the main base section I5 and a bracket I04 is secured to the subbase section I! a jacent a base supporting post H 0. At the upper-end of the shaft is staked the bracket 91 and inwardly 'of its lower end the shaft 86 cut away partial-ly, as shown in Fig. 4, and formed thereon are. three. depending shoulders I 06, I01, and I08 (see Figs. 5 and 6) all of which coact with other parts, presently to be described, to either effect proper swinging of the tone arm for setting its stylus down correctly at the beginning-of-play positionon each of the successive records or to shut "off the motor switch after playing of the lastrecord.

. The tone arm operating lever 81 is pivoted at N19 to abracket III hinged on a. post H2 on the suhbase .section 1 1. At its outer I or rear end the lever 81 is formed with an angularly disposed flange II3 the upper edge of which engages the underside of the flange disc I95 for the purpose of shifting the shaft-86 axially-andimparting rotationthereto. At its inner or forward end the lever fil mountsacam track follower I which is arranged to engage one of the cam tracks on the velocity latch controlled cam means F, as will be described more fully hereinafter. A spring I I6 connecting the flange II3 with the bracket III and a record spring III connecting the bracket I II with the subbase section I1 coact to hold the lever 81 with its cam track follower I I4 in proper position with the cam track of the cam means F.

The tensioning arm 88 (see Figs. I, 8 and 9) has its outer end arcuate shaped and is pivoted at I I8 (see Fig. 10) to the underside of the collar 69 on the push-off supporting shaft 51. The inner end of this arm 88 extends through a slotted ear II9 on the bracket III and mounts a spring I2I between the ear IIS and a shoulder I22 formed medially on the arm 88. This tensioning arm 88 and spring I2I coact to bias the lever 81 so that the cam track follower II I will properly engage the walls of one or the other of the cam tracks, as will be set forth presently, to set the tone arm down, together with its stylus, at the correct beginning-of-play position for either a 12" or 7 record.

The restraining lever 89 (see Figs. 4, 7, 8 and 99 is pivoted on a pin I23 so that a shoulder I24. on one of its arms is disposed below the tone arm disc I but is retracted by a spring I25 from the path of the shoulder I 91 on the disc I05. The other arm of the lever 89 extends into the path of the detent 9|. This detent is hinged on the pin Bil '(see Fig. 10) and normally urged by gravity so that its upper part extends toward the collar 66. As will be noted, the upper part of this detent 9| is disposed above the tensioning arm 88. When the selective record support mounting 4? is turned so that the shaft 51 moves the lug I3 into the position shown in Fig. 9, the lug l3 presses the detent 9| outwardly nearly into contact with the restraining lever 89; consequently a subsequent rocking or the rocker arm 46 shifts the restraining lever 89 to bring .the shoulder I 24 in the path of the shoulder I01 on the tone arm shaft disc I05. This results in so restraining an inward :swing of the tone arm 84 as to cause its stylus to be set down at the correct beginning-of-play position on a record of 10" diameter.

The trigger controlled cam means .F may be generally the same as the mechanism disclosed in the Dale Patent No. 2,509,811,. dated May 30., 1 950. This mechanism is shown to comprise a cam I26 on the periphery of which. is formed va cam track 121 and in the face of which is formed. a cam track 128. The peripheral track [21 is shaped to engage the roller 63 and eifect the desired rocking of the rocker arm 46, whereas the facial track I28 is shaped to be engaged by the cam track follower .I I4 .50 as to effect the desired movement of the lever .81 for swinging thetonearm 84 between .its starting and finishof-play positions and setting its stylusdown .at the correctbeginning-ofeplay positions for any one of the three diameter records. Further details of these cam tracks will be explained presently.

, The cam I26 is journaled belowand concentrically with the gear 38 ona stud shaft I30 anchored to the main and subbase sections I5 and In? (see Fig. 10). The cam I26 mounts a velocity latch I29 normally urged by gravity to engage the angular end thereof with the annular-series of notches :I 3I formed on the underside of the gear -38 so as to connectthe cam I26 to rotate in unison therewith. A velocity trip. I32 is jour- :naled on a pin I33 at the side of the gear 38, and

'its inner end I34 is so disposed as to normally contact the latch I29 and retract it from engagement with the teeth I3I of the gear 38 (see Figs. 4 and 11). Shoulders I36 and I31 on the trip I32 are positioned to be engaged respectively by a tone arm feather I38 or the reject arm I39 (see Fig. 4) to effect a swing of the tone arm 84 and the release of a record onto the turntable B.

The feather I38 is swingably mounted on the tone arm shaft 86 and is held in contact with a friction pad I42 against the hub of the disc I by a weight I4I (see Fig. 5). A'pin I43 on the velocity trip I32 is constantly engaged by lugs I44 on the gear 38 so as to retain the velocity trip I32 with the end I34 retracting the latch I29 from engagement with the teeth I3I on the gear 38. This prevents a release of the latch I29 until the feather I38 is moved toward the inward limit of its movement at a time when the stylus is traversing the fast pitch groove near the center of the record, following the completion of a playing thereof. A shoulder I45 on the tripper arm I32 (see Fig. 5) contacts the periphery of the gear 38 and limits the inward swing of the tripper.

The reject tripper arm I39 is pivoted at I40 (see Fig. 1) on the underside of the main base section I5 with the finger I65 extending into position to be contacted by ing means, as will later be explained in connection with the last record motor shut-off mechanism G. The inner end of the arm I39 mounts a spring feeler I for contacting the tripper shoulder I31 when the arm is normally biased by a spring I52 (see Fig. 1) toward its retracted position. The cam track I21 is formed with a depression I49 (see Fig. 6) which defines the rest position for the roller 63 on the rocker arm 46. From this point the cam is formed with a rise I5I (see Fig. 5) in approaching the rocker arm 46 which is actuated to operate the push-off head 58 and thereby the lowermost record from the spindle shoulder 49 for release to the turntable therebelow.

The cam track I28, as will be most clearly noted from Figs. '1, 8 and 9, has its vertical walls I46 and I41 spaced apart more widely at certain places than elsewhere. This is to permit the cam track follower II4 to be pressed to engage one or the other of these walls during the angle between the dot and dash lines I48 so as to effect the proper set-down of the stylus at the beginning-of-play position on records of different diameters. The bottom of the track I28 is waved in a vertical plane so as to effect the desired vertical swing of the lever 81 and the consequent vertical swing of the tone arm 86.

Obviously the form of the cams I21 and I28 are coordinated so that shifting of the rocker arm 46 takes place when the actuating lever 81 has swung the tone arm outwardly sufficiently to clear the next-to-be-released record.

The last-record motor shut-off mechanism G comprises a switch actuating rocker arm I56 and a pair of levers I51 and I58, and an immobilizing no-record lever I59 (see Figs. 3 and 15). The rocker arm I56 is pivoted on a plate I60 adjacent a rod I6I whereon is mounted the reject button 24. The rocker arm I56 and rod I6I are operatively united by a pin and slot connection I62. A shoulder I63 on the rocker arm I56 extends through a slot I54 in the plate I60 and is connected to a switch arm I64 of a switch I68. ,Aspring I66, interposed between the pin of the the motor switch actuat- I39 is actuated and i pin and slot connection I62 and an earv I61on the plate I60, normally urges the reject button rod, I6I upwardly and thereby opens the switch I68.

The lever I51 is pivoted at I12 so that-its weighted end I13 normally urges the pivoted detent I14 on the opposite end upwardly away from the end I15 of the gravity latch I1I. The lever I58 is pivoted at I16 to an ear I88 on the base section I5 so that its weighted end I11 normally urges the opposite end I18 into the path of a shoulder I19 on the lever I51. A cam shoulder I8I on the lever I58 is thus positioned to be engaged by the shoulder I08 on the arm disc I05 when the tone arm 84 is held in its starting position as a result of freeing of the no-record lever I59.

The no-record lever is hinged at I82 (seeFig. 5) on the subbase section I1 so that the end I83 thereof extends into the spindle cut-away 48. A leaf spring I84 is secured to the lever end I83 and interposed between the lever end I83 and the cut-away end 48 of the spindle (see Fig. 5) to aiford a pressure means for elevating the spindle 44 when the last record has been released. The other and longer portion of the no-record lever I59 is of stepped angular form and extends rearwardly with its extremity bifurcated to provide offset tongues I86 and I81 (see Figs. 4 and 5) located respectively adjacent and between the tone arm shaft 86 and the rocker arm 46. The tongue I86 is so formed that when the lever I59 is free, by reason of the release of the last record from the spindle 44, the tongue will engage a shoulder I89 on the cut-away'flange of the tone arm disc I05 and prevent the next inward movement of the lever 81 from swinging the tone arm toward the beginning-of-play position. At'that time the flange I I3 simply slides along the under edge of the flanged disc I05 and, when the lever 81 begins its vertical movement to permit a depression of the tone arm shaft 86, the shoulder I08 contacts the cam shoulder I8I on the lever I58. The consequent swing of the lever I58 is transmitted to the latch I1I through the lever I51 and detent I14 to effect a release of the rocker arm I56, thus opening the switch I68. The tongue I81 coacts with a tongue I90 on the rocker arm 46 to prevent any depression of the rocker arm I59 during swingingof the rocker arm 46. As will be noted from Fig. 15, the detent I14 is pivoted off center so that it is weighted to assume the position therein shown which is fixed by the shoulder I9I on the adjacent end of the lever I51. When the lever I 51 is actuated by the lever I58, the detent I14 is firmly held against the shoulder I9I to effect the depression of the arm I15 of the latch I1I to release the roller I53. A slight projection I92 is formed on the detent I14 to insure contact with the end of the latch arm I15. This same shoulder I9I also lrrmtsthe swing of the detent I14 in the oppo- Slte direction so that it cannot pass beyond a posltion for effective contact with the latch arm I15. As will be further noted from Fig. 15 the stop button 26, normally retracted by a spring I93, is positioned directly over the detent I 15 T1115 makes it possible for the button 26 to be depressed for releasing the latch IN to permit the spring I66 to shift the rocker arm I56 to open the switch I68.

concentrically arranged with the reject button 24 1s a swiveled hub I94 (see Figs. 1 and 15), An arrow point I96 on the hub I94 may be turned to either of two positions, represented by arrow points I91 and I98 on the crescent plate 23-, for adjusting th machine for either manual or automatic playing of records. An arm I99 is arranged on the hub I94, below the base secto its rest or starting position, with th outer end of the arm directly over the stop button 25 (see Fig. 1), the shoulder I95 on the tone arm disc I moves up over the pointed end 20I of the bracket I04 (see Fig. 5) and seats itself between the pointed end 20I and the adjacent base post III] so that the tone arm 84 is yieldingly held against accidental displacement.

The operation of th present record changing mechanism is substantially as follows:

Assuming the tone arm 84 is in starting or rest position, as shown in Fig. 1, the first action is that of rotatively adjusting the selective record marginal support and release mechanism D in position to accept a supply of records of the diameter which it is desired to be played, 1. e. '7", or 12". To that end the push-01f head 58 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 12) is rotated to position one pair of shoulder ledges 15, IE or TI (according to the diameter of the records to be supported) directly opposite the spindle 44. The record hold-down I8 is lifted to its retracted position, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 12, whereupon a supply of records may be stacked upon the spindle shoulder 49 to be marginally supported by the shoulders opposite thereto on the push-off head 58. The next step is the shifting of the speed selector 42 to register it with the numbers I8, 45, Or 31 which are indicative of the speed at which the chosen record is designed to operate. A third preparatory step is turning the hub I94 so that the pointer I95 is registered with the automatic pointer I98 on the crescent plate I28.

To start the machine, the reject button 24 is depressed. This shifts the switch operating rocker arm I56 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 15, and moves the switch arm I84 to close the switch I 58 to the motor which drives the shaft 43 (see Fig. 1). The shifting of the rocker arm I55 causes the part I59 to contact the finger I65 and swing the arm I39 to contact the spring feeler I 50 with the shoulder I 3'! and shift the velocity trip I32 to retract the end I34 thereof from engagement with the latch I29. The release of the latch I29 results in an engagement thereof with the teeth I3I on the gear 38 (see Fig. 11) and causes the cam I26 to rotate with the gear 38. Thereupon the cam track I21, acting on the roller 53, initiates a swinging of the rocker arm 45 (see Fig. 10) to move the record support and push-off head 58 inwardly toward the spindle 44 (see Fig. 3). In a well-known manner this produces release of a record to the turntable B.

Meanwhile the cam track I29 actuates the lever 81 to elevate the tone arm 84 and swing it out to its starting position (see Fig. 1) and start it back to a position whereat the tone arm stylus is to be set down at the beginning-of-play position on the record coincidentally released. Thepoint at which the tone arm 84 is set down upon a record depends upon the position to which the record support mounting 41 is turned.

Such a rotative adjustment determines the action of the tensioning arm 88 and of the restraining lever 89. If the push-01f head 58 is set to support 12" records, the arm 88 will be so positioned that there is no tension on the spring I2I (see Fig. 7). Accordingly the spring II! will urge the lever 81 to retain the cam track follower II 4 against the cam track wall I46 thereby limiting the swing of the tone arm 84 to its farthest out position; in consequence, as the follower II4 moves through the angle between the lines I48 the stylus will be set down at the beginning-of-play position for a 12" record.

If the record selector mounting 41 is set for the push-off head 58 to support a 7" record (see Figs. 3 and 8), the spring I2I will be compressed. The compression of this spring counteracts the spring I I1 and presses the lever 81 to position the follower lid against the cam track wall I41, thereby permitting the tone arm 84 to swing to its farthest in position; in consequence, as the follower I44 moves through the angle between the lines I48, the stylus will be set down at the beginning-of-play position for a 7 record.

If the record support mounting 41 is turned so that the push-off head 58 will support a 10" record (see Figs. 4 and 9), the lug I3 on the collar 66 is moved to contact the detent 9I which is advanced toward contact with the adjacent part of the tone arm restraining lever 89. Such rotation of the record support mounting 41 continues and, in fact, increases the tension on the spring I2I on the arm 88. However, as the rocker arm 46 is swung to push off a record, the rocker 4'6 presses the lug I3 to cause the detent 9| to shift the lever 89 to move the shoulder I24 into the path of the shoulder I81 on the tone arm disc I05. The engagement of these shoulders (see Fig. 9) arrests the inward swing of the tone arm at a point intermediate the farthest out and farthest in positions (for the records of 7" and 12" diameters, respectively). At the point of arrested movement of the tone arm the knife edge of the flange IIS simply rides along the under edge of the disc I 05, whereupon the lever 87 subsequently acts to set the needle down at the beginning-of-play position for a 10" record.

The placing of records on the spindle shoulder 49 and the record push-01f head 58 results in a depression of the spindle 44, thus depressing the no-record rocker arm I59 (see Fig. 5). This elevates its outer end as viewed at the right of Fig. 5, and raises the tongue I 86 from the normal path of the tone arm disc shoulder I89. Thus so long as there is one record supported on the spindle 44 there will be no interference with the return swing of the tone arm 84 from its starting position. However, upon the release of the last record from the spindle shoulder 49, the outer end of the rocker arm I59 will drop down to rest the tongue I85 on top of the disc I 05 so that as the tone arm 84 reaches its fully-retracted starting position, the tongue I86 will drop off behind the shoulder I89. Thereupon, as the tone arm lever 81 attempts to swing the tone arm 84 back toward the beginning-of-play position, the tone arm is not permitted to move horizontally of its starting position. In consequence, when the lever 87 is moved to lower the tone arm shaft 86 the shoulder I98 on the disc I contacts the end I BI of the lever I53 (see Fig. 3) and initiates a chain action that results in the lever I51 being shifted so that the detent I14 contacts the part I15 of the locking latch HI and retracts it from engagement with the roller I53 on the arm I56. This frees the spring I66 to shift the reject rod I6I and the reject button 24 upwardly, thereby swinging the switch arm I64 to open the switch I68 and cut off the motor.

When it is desired to release another record before the playing of a previously released record is finished, a depression of the reject button 24 will actuate the rocker arm I 6 (see Fig. 14) so that the part I69 on the arm I56 contacts the finger I65 on the reject arm I39 and shifts it to retract the velocity trip I32 (see Fig. 4), thereby releasing the latch I29 to effect a rotation of the cam I26 with its consequent operation of the record push-off rocker arm 46 and lever 81 to respectively release a record from the spindle shoulder 49 and reset the tone arm 84 at the beginningof-play position for the record so released.

For manual play of records, the hub I94 is turned to manual position and the tone arm 84 is lifted from its fully retracted starting position and swung inwardly slightly to allow the stylus to be set down on the pad 21 (see Fig. 1). Turning of the hub I94 shifts the arm I99 to engage the finger I65 and lock the arm I39 to .hold the tripper I32 to maintain the latch I29 retracted. Following placing of a record on the turntable B the reject button 24 may be depressed to effect a shifting of the rocker arm I56 so as to hold the motor switch I68 in closed position. At the completion of play the tone arm 84 will have to be manually returned to set the stylus on the pad 21. At that time, if the machine is to be stopped, a down push on the stop button 26 (see Fig. will cause the detent I'M to retract the latch III and release the rocker arm I56, as previously described.

We claim:

1. A record changer and tone arm swinging mechanism comprising a supporting base, a tone arm swingably mounted on the base, a tone arm actuating lever mounted on the-base to effect horizontal and vertical swinging of the tone arm to set it at the beginning-of-play position on a record, a motor driven cam means journaled on the base and having a cam groove formed therein providing opposed inner and outer walls, a cam track follower on the lever, a record support manually selective to support a stack of records of any one of three different diameters, means controlled by the record support for biasing the follower to traverse one or the other of the cam groove walls to cause the lever to set the tone arm at the beginning-of-play position for either of two different diameter records, and other means controlled by the record support for neutralizing the operation of the follower biasing means and causing the lever to set the tone arm at the beginning-of-play position for a record whose diameter is intermediate that of the other two records.

2. In a phonograph, the combination of a supporting base, a record supporting turntable journaled on the base, a motor connected to drive the turntable, a spindle arranged concentrically of the turntable, a tone arm mounted on the base for vertical and horizontal movement away from and toward a starting position, a rocker arm hinged on the base, a roller on one end of the rocker arm, a record support mounting journaled on the other end of the rocker arm and manually adjustable to coact with the spindle for releasably supporting a stack of records of any one of three different diameters above the turntable, a lever mounted on the base for movement about a horizontal and vertical axis to effect swinging of the tone arm, a cam track follower on the lever, cam means having an annular track formed thereon engageable by the rocker arm roller to effect a swinging of the rocker arm on a horizontal axis to cause the successive release of records onto the turntable, the cam means also having formed thereon a second irregular track with depressions and spaced opposed side walls engageable by the lever cam track follower to effect horizontal and vertical swinging of the lever to set the tone arm at the beginning-ofplay position for a record released to the'turntable, tripper means for effecting an intermittent operation of the cam means, means connecting the record support mounting with the lever whereby the positioning of the record mounting in either of two of its possible positions biases the cam track follower respectively against the opposite walls of the second cam track whereby the tone arm may be set at the beginning-of-play position for records of either of two diameters for which the record support mounting is positioned, a tone arm restraining lever hinged on the base with its opposite arms respectively adjacent the rocker arm and the tone arm, coacting shoulders on the tone arm and the restraining lever, and coacting means on the record support mounting and the rocker arm movable into position to actuate the restraining lever to engage its shoulder with the tone arm shoulder to limit the swing of the tone arm when the record support mounting is shifted to its third position whereby the tone arm is set at the beginning-of-play position for a record whose diameter is intermediate that of the other two records.

3. In a phonograph, the combination of a supporting base, a record supporting turntable journaled on the base, a motor connected to drive the turntable, a spindle arranged concentrically of the turntable, a tone arm mounted'on the base for vertical and horizontal movement away from and toward a starting position, a rocker arm hinged on the base, a roller on one end of the rocker arm, a record support mounting journaled on the other end of the rocker arm and manually adjustable to coact with the spindle for releasably supporting a stack of records of any one of three different diameters above the turntable, a lever mounted on the base for movement about a horizontal and vertical axis to effect swinging of the tone arm, a cam track follower on the lever, cam means having an annular track formed thereon engageable by the rocker arm roller to effect a swinging of the rocker arm on a horizontal axis to cause the successive release of records onto the turntable, the cam means also having formed thereon a second irregular track with depressions and spaced opposed side walls engageable by the lever cam track follower to effect horizontal and vertical swinging of the lever to set the tone arm at the beginning-of-play position for a record released to the turntable,

tripper means for effecting an intermittent operation of the cam means, means connecting the record support mounting with the lever whereby the positioning of the record support mounting in either of two of its two possible positions biases the cam track follower respectively against the opposite walls of the second cam track whereby the tone arm may be set at the beginning-ofplay position for records of either of two diameters for which the record support mounting is 13 positioned, a tone arm restraining lever hinged on the base with its opposite arms respectively adjacent the rocker arm and the tone arm, coacting shoulders on the tone arm and the restraining lever, a detent hinged on the record support rocker arm and normally retracted from a position to contact the tone arm restraining lever, and a shoulder on the record support mounting movable by shifting of the record support mounting to a third position to dispose the detent to engage the tone arm restraining lever so that when the record support rocker arm is actuated by the cam means the detent will shift the tone arm restraining lever to efiect engagement of the shoulders on the tone arm and the tone arm restraining lever to limit the swing of the tone arm whereby it is set at the beginningof-play position for a record whose diameter is intermediate that of the other two records.

COLIN B. DALE. ARNE L. BERG. HARRY H. WAGNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 5 1,966,576 2,328,641 2,333,414 2,339,981 2,396,094 10 2,457,106 2,486,898 2,509,8 1 1 2,549,246 2,584,257

Number Name Date Allen July 17, 1934 Glaser Sept. 7, 1943 DeTar Nov. 2, 1943 Cranmer et al Jan. 25, 1944 Gay Mar. 5, 1946 Pressley Dec. 21, 1948 Wennerbo et a1. Nov. 1, 1949 Dale May 30, 1950 Schweitzer Apr. 1'7, 1951 Cain Feb. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 5, 1934 Great Britain June 4, 1935 

